WOW Women of Wrestling is set to premiere the weekend of September 17 in syndication on CBS-affiliated networks.
WOW announced its multi-year deal with ViacomCBS in October 2021 and there has been many stops and starts to its return. The promotion was founded in 2000 by David McLane, but ceased television production multiple times over the past two decades.
President of the Los Angeles Lakers and WOW co-owner Jeanie Buss stopped by Variety's Strictly Business podcast and was asked why she continued with the project after so many reboots.
"If women listen to that, then there would be no women's sports at all. It's just taking people like me who believe and are willing to invest, as promoters and figuring out a sustainable model. We finally found the right partner in CBS Viacom and we are now launching in September AND we have coverage over 100% of the outlets in the United States. We're overseas and in Australia, we're picking up markets as we go along. It's one of those things where, if you build it, they will come. We need to put a flag in the ground and now we finally have the right partner that will give us the exposure that we so desperately needed to show that women can draw ratings, that women can be the center stage and be the draw. This was the sustainable model that I feel can last for generations and that this is my investment back into women and athletics," she said.
When asked if she's learned from past versions, Buss replied, "The product has always been strong, the storytelling, the wrestling, it was just finding the audience and making sure the women were properly trained and finding those stars. I fully expect that we will find the female version of Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson or John Cena, that this will be a launching pad for stars that really needed an opportunity to gain attention and gain an audience."
Buss said it's about "fresh faces and new opportunities for women" when the host wondered how a female becoming the next Rock or Cena would ultimately help WOW. She also said that she believes women's wrestling is a small part and an opportunity for women to say, "I can do that. I can be strong."
Fans can check out the sizzle reel for the show by clicking.
AJ Lee is currently signed on as a producer and announcer for the show. You can find her comments on her role by clicking here.
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